Verdict
Summary
From erotic maestro Tinto Brass, who has never had trouble aiming his camera where the sun never shines, The Key is a bountiful gift of playful sexuality without the bitter aftertaste of hardcore pornography or the empty calories of fluffy eroticism he later become known for with trifles such as Frivolous Lola and Cheeky. The Key keeps things more or less grounded in a fairly serious way with an introverted look into a middle aged man’s mind, which is full of insecurities and needs, and Brass handles the whole thing with a certain level of maturity that is refreshing.
Plot:
An older man married to a younger woman spices up their sex life by allowing his wife to sleep with another man.
Review:
Nino (Frank Finlay) is a middle-aged man living in Italy circa 1940 with his younger wife Teresa (Stefania Sandrelli), whom he is completely obsessed with. They share a daughter, who is going to be married to handsome Laszlo (Franco Branciaroli), and Nino isn’t satisfied in bed the way he wants to be, and so he begins to fantasize about his wife in new ways, beginning with taking erotic photographs of her while she’s sleeping or unconscious, posing her in positions that might seem creepy to some, but to Nino, it’s everything. He starts to write his fantasies in a journal, which has a lock and key, and in order to put his wife to the test, he leaves the key to his journal out in the open for her to find, and when she opens and reads his entries, she sees a doorway into her husband’s fantasies, which include him imagining her having sex with their daughter’s fiancé. She takes the fantasies to the next level and allows herself to be lusted after by Laszlo, and then she begins a heated and passionate sexual affair with him, all to Nino’s benefit because the whole thing turns him on. When a tragedy strikes, Teresa already has her love life taken care of, many thanks to Nino’s “key.”
From erotic maestro Tinto Brass, who has never had trouble aiming his camera where the sun never shines, The Key is a bountiful gift of playful sexuality without the bitter aftertaste of hardcore pornography or the empty calories of fluffy eroticism he later become known for with trifles such as Frivolous Lola and Cheeky. The Key keeps things more or less grounded in a fairly serious way with an introverted look into a middle aged man’s mind, which is full of insecurities and needs, and Brass handles the whole thing with a certain level of maturity that is refreshing. It does take its flights of fancy a few times and has a few goofy moments, but it’s very sexy and is never boring, ending on a bittersweet note, coasting right into the beginning of World War II.
Cult Epics continues their streak of releasing gorgeous 4K Ultra HD discs of Brass’s oeuvre, and their latest release of The Key comes in a vivid 4K restored presentation. The two-disc combo pack also includes the Blu-ray version as well as a host of bonus features and a booklet. A “better” film than most of Brass’s other movies, The Key has a stronger hold on its subject matter and is a worthy addition to the shelf.
Bonus Materials
- 4K Transfer and Restoration from the original camera negative
- Audio Commentary by film historians Eugenio Ercolani & Marcus Stiglegger
- Brass’ Talisman: An Interview with actor Franco Branciaroli
- Keyhole Venice: A look at the Venetian locations of the film
- Sensuous Morricone: A special on Ennio Morricone and Tinto Brass
- Isolated Score by Ennio Morricone
- Archival Interview with Tinto Brass (2001)
- Outtakes of The Key: Venice
- The Key Poster Gallery
- Tinto Brass Photo Gallery
- Tinto Brass 4K Trailers
- Dual-layered Disc
- Slipcase
- Reversible Sleeve w/Original Italian Poster Art
- 20-Page illustrated Booklet w/Essay by Eugenio Ercolani
